Giants 3, Padres 2

ANNE M. PETERSON

Apr. 02, 2001

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Barry Bonds homered and Livan Hernandez took care of the rest.

Hernandez allowed six hits in 7 1-3 innings, and the San Francisco Giants began their second year at Pacific Bell Park with a season-opening 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Monday.

Hernandez broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth with a single that scored Bobby Estalella, who had doubled off Woody Williams with two outs.

Bonds, eligible for free agency after this season, hit a solo homer in the fifth, the 495th home run of his career.

When Bonds returned to left field in the sixth inning, the fans in the bleachers gave him a standing ovation and chanted ``Barry! Barry!'' Bonds acknowledged them with a tip of his cap.

Bonds also threw out Tony Gwynn at the plate in the fourth. Gwynn, who didn't play after June 23 last year and is coming back from knee surgery, was trying to score from third on Wiki Gonzalez's single to left.

Gwynn, who was sliding home, clutched his leg after the tag, but returned to right field in the bottom of the fourth. He went 2-for-4, batting fifth in the order for the first time since 1983, his second season.

Gwynn's RBI single in the eighth gave him 3,110 hits, tying new Hall of Famer Dave Winfield for 16th on the career list.

Marvin Benard added an RBI single for the Giants in the sixth.

Robb Nen, who had 41 saves last season, struck out the side in the ninth for the save.

Williams gave up all three runs, six hits and five walks in 5 2-3 innings.

Mike Darr drove in San Diego's run with a sixth-inning single.

Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco's jewel of a ballpark with sweeping bay views, was decked out in bunting for the opening day festivities. The field, which had been a concern after the San Francisco Demons' XFL season, was nearly pristine.

Former Giants first baseman Will Clark got one of the biggest hands of the day from the sellout crowd when he threw out the first pitch.

Notes: Gwynn became the 16th player with 20 or more seasons with the same team and made his 18th straight opening day start. ... Padres manager Bruce Bochy, who injured his ankle in a minor motorcycle accident, was on crutches and wearing a walking cast on opening day.